Dave and Jenny Marrs' 40 Best Decorating Ideas
It's hard to play favorites with designs this good, but we chose some standout rooms by reno gurus Dave and Jenny Marrs, co-hosts of Fixer to Fabulous.

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Create Forever Homes With Dave and Jenny
Dave and Jenny Marrs love small-town America, particularly their hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas. The husband-and-wife team brings historic homes into the present with incredible renovations that are full of character. We’ve pulled together Dave and Jenny's best Fixer to Fabulous designs. The Marrs’ coolest kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms and living spaces lie ahead.
see more: Fixer to Fabulous
In the Living Room: Say It in Blue
Step outside the “typical” box with colorful and unexpected ideas. Jenny was given full creative control over this home remodel, and she transformed the dated space with a fresh design. Keeping the fireplace wall as the focal point of the living room, she painted it a soothing blue-gray. A custom-built, black-walnut mantel and firebox bring in refined architectural detail.
see more: Cool Paint Shade Ideas We Love: Blue, Green, Purple and More
In the Living Room: Illuminate Art
Design for what you love. A space to display artwork was a must-have for these homeowners, so Dave created custom built-ins with a special section to display pieces from the couple's collection. The sage-green built-ins also provide plenty of storage.
see more: 20 Neutral Living Room Ideas From HGTV Stars
In the Living Room: Highlight Your Assets
High, vaulted ceilings make this airy living room feel spacious. To enhance this ambiance further, Jenny painted the walls crisp white and decorated with muted, neutral furnishings. Bright artwork and geometric throw pillows (easy accessories to switch for a new scheme) add color.
see more: The Property Brothers’ Best Living Room Design Ideas From ‘Forever Home’
In the Living Room: Lean Into Classics
In this cozy, sunken living area, Jenny kept the furnishings simple and traditional, a smart tactic when it comes to decorating compact spaces. Just four pieces of furniture — a pair of weathered gray armchairs, a soft gray sofa and an industrial-style wood-and-iron coffee table — fill out the room nicely. The Marrs' softened the arched, brick entry with a whitewash finish.
see more: Our 100+ Fave Designer Living Rooms
In the Living Room: Embrace the Outdoors
Blending contemporary and midcentury-modern styles, this entertaining space is ready to party. Two large walls of glass doors open accordion-style, creating a seamless flow between the living room and the outdoor pool area.
In the Living Room: Sink Into the Serene
This quiet design combines unadorned furniture with simple lines, subdued hues and low-key textiles to create an inviting, relaxing space. This homeowner is a tornado chaser, so Jenny had a local artist create a custom abstract piece reflecting his love of storms.
see more: Designers Share 40 Ways to Make Your Living Room Cozy
In the Living Room: Dress It Up With Paneling
To make the living room of The Welcome Inn look modern (while still maintaining the charm of the space), Jenny installed sophisticated paneling on the walls — then topped the look off with cozy furniture. This bright, light space is oh-so inviting.
see more: 20 Decorative Wall Paneling Ideas to Try in Every Room
In the Bedroom: Create an Accent Wall
You can't go wrong with fresh white wall paint, but sometimes, a stunning statement wall makes a design even better. Here, a modern platform bed dressed in cozy whites and classic stripes sits against a textured, muted blue-green wall. Jenny also added an oversized pendant, a chic way to bring scale and shape into the space.
see more: 25 Stylish Bedroom Accent Wall Ideas
In the Bedroom: Keep It Neutral
A bedroom is the ultimate retreat, so try out calming shades, plush fabrics and natural materials, like Jenny did here. Sage-green walls add soft color, while a dark wood nightstand offers warmth.
see more: Bedroom Color Ideas: Which Paint to Pick
In the Bedroom: Make a Sweet Kid’s Nest
Design a kiddo’s area for rest and fun. Swathed in a mellow color palette, this bedroom boasts ample space for playing, as well as big floor pillows for jumping and snuggling up for reading time. Dave built a custom bed (inspired by one he built for his daughter years ago) that brings a bit of rustic whimsy to the design.
see more: 50+ Amazing Rooms That Make Us Wish We Were Kids Again
In the Bedroom: DIY It
Even if you live in landlocked Arkansas, you can still have a tropical retreat. Case in point: This expansive bedroom is brimming with vacation vibes. Jenny curated the ambiance with an intimate seating area boasting woven chairs, a bed bedecked in light, airy linens and an array of houseplants. She used stencils to paint a tropical leaf motif across the walls in varying shades of green, a getaway look without the steep price tag of custom wallpaper.
In the Bedroom: Invest In Your Bed
Not your typical platform bed, this raw-wood frame (which appears to hover off the ground) ups the design ante in this rustic bedroom.
In the Bedroom: Break Out the Wallpaper
To maintain the history of this home during the renovation, the Marrs updated the wallpaper (a floral, hand-painted creation), but remained true to the space's original color palette. And, for rustic character, the duo left a brick beam exposed in the corner of the room.
see more: The Best Places to Buy Wallpaper Online
In the Kitchen: Install Herringbone-Wood Floors
Dave and Jenny brought their English-country kitchen vision to life. With a stunning range, custom-made cabinets, herringbone wood floors and a mosaic backsplash (complete with handmade tile), this cook space is absolutely alluring.
see more: Before and After: Inside Jenny and Dave Marrs' Welcome Inn
In the Kitchen: Mimic Nature's Color Palette
Nestled in the woods of Bentonville, Arkansas, this home is surrounded by trees and greenery, so the Marrs brought the outside in with muted deep-green kitchen cabinets. Paired with a classic marble tile backsplash and white quartz countertops, the browns, greens and blacks throughout the space boast a soft, timeless aesthetic. Brass pendant lights illuminate a ready-for-gatherings island.
see more: Earth Tone Paint Colors and How You Can Use Them
In the Kitchen: Go Bold With a Range
A 60-inch, bluish-gray Italian range is the focal point of Jenny and Dave's Rock the Block kitchen. Even better: The hood vent is recessed, allowing the handmade backsplash tiles to shine. Dave and Jenny nixed the awkward corner cabinet of the old kitchen, opting instead for functional (and attractive) light-gray cabinets.
see more: Dave and Jenny Marrs' 'Rock the Block' House Reveal
In the Kitchen: Make the Most of Your Layout
Embracing stellar views, the Marrs made sure the new island and prep space in this renovated kitchen faced the lake. They laid the cabinets in an L-shape to maximize the space's square footage, while still providing ample storage. Handmade tile delivers tone-on-tone texture and complements the muted color palette.
see more: 58 White Kitchens That Are Anything But Vanilla
In the Kitchen: Add Open Shelving
Open shelving doesn’t work for everyone, but it certainly does in the Marrs’ personal kitchen. Light-wood shelves make the room feel more open, while adding a ton of warmth. “I wanted a moody look that incorporated the natural colors ... varying shades of green, copper, peach, cream and natural wood tones,” says Jenny.
see more: Inside Dave and Jenny Marrs’s Gorgeous Farmhouse Kitchen
In the Kitchen: Decorate With Bold Colors
When Jenny and Dave met with the homeowner to discuss the details of the renovation on her Victorian home, she told them that she wanted to see the entire kitchen gutted. They opted to start fresh and gave her a bold, modern kitchen with colorful accents.
see more: The Best Bold Paint Colors for Every Room of Your Home
In the Kitchen: Design for Cleanup
Stained concrete floors make messes easy to clean, so they're a smart option for any kitchen. Jenny topped the look off with deep slate-blue cabinets and black countertops. Dave built a custom wine rack out of steel.
see more: How to Get Industrial Style in Your Space
In the Kitchen: Add Waterfall Glam
The waterfall island in this kitchen is a showstopper. Jenny and Dave topped the natural wood cabinets with a terrazzo-style countertop made from recycled bottles and jars. For contrast, they painted the upper cabinets matte black. Brass open shelving adds a touch of metallic shine.
see more: 100 Beautiful Kitchen Island Inspiration Ideas
In the Dining Room: Try Open Shelving
Use all the nooks and crannies of your home. The Marrs transformed the inset area behind this dining table with built-in shelving, perfect for displaying dishware, books or vases of flowers. In addition to offering much-needed storage, the new shelving can function as a buffet-style serving area for entertaining.
see more: 46 Ways to Refresh Your Dining Room
In the Dining Room: Decorate to a Theme
Dave and Jenny always jump at the chance to replicate a traditional, historic aesthetic. For this 1900s house, they switched up the floor plan to create a kitchen made for a modern family — but they stuck with the classics. David built a Windsor-style bench for the farmhouse dining table, and Jenny found vintage schoolhouse pendant lights and antique stained glass to add rustic character to the space.
see more: Our Favorite Farmhouse Kitchen Designs From 'Farmhouse Fixer'
In the Dining Room: Mix Woods
Set in a bay window, the dining space off the kitchen combines a simple wood table with a built-in bench and a trio of wicker chairs. Natural light pours in through the windows to amplify the natural-meets-white kitchen. An expansive entry into the living room boasts reclaimed wooden beams.
In the Dining Room: Add Charm With Cane
Here, Dave decided to fully remove the preexisting faux ceiling, while maintaining the exposed floor joists. With high ceilings, cane-back chairs, natural wood and touches of gold, Dave and Jenny successfully created a cozy eatery.
see more: All The Creative Ways You Can Use Cane Accessories In Your Home
In the Dining Room: Mix and Match Seating
When working with small dining areas, try built-in seating and dining chairs, like the Marrs did here. A bench on one side offers more seating than chairs do — plus, kids love to feel like they’re at a picnic table.
see more: 50 Design Ideas to Try Now
In the Bathroom: Bring In Color With Tile
These homeowners declared a love for pink, so Jenny made sure to incorporate the color into their home. She selected a subtle pink tile, a fun addition to the main bathroom. The Marrs extended the tile beyond the standing shower, stretching it behind the chic soaker bathtub and above the vanity.
see more: 20 Bathroom Shower Tile Ideas
In the Bathroom: Create the Ultimate Wet Room
Wet rooms are a luxe experience. The all-in-one setting houses a shower and a bathtub, creating an instant spa-like atmosphere. Here, small square tiles ground the room, while variegated porcelain wraps the rest of the space in a calming blue.
see more: 75 Walk-In Shower Designs for a Luxurious, Spa-Like Bathroom
In the Bathroom: Add Wall Texture
In this bathroom remodel, Jenny carried the wood-look floor tile all the way up to the ceiling. (It might be her favorite floor tile of all time!) A floating oak double vanity complements the design. The wet room boasts both a soaking tub and a steam shower.
see more: Our Fave Bathroom Tile Design Ideas
In the Bathroom: Make It Functional
When the Marrs realized this guest bathroom was right next to the home's backyard pool area, they used a little innovation to add a door leading to the outside. Now, this deep-blue-tiled space serves double duty: It's a guest bathroom and an accessible pool shower for pre- or post-swimming.
In the Bathroom: Go for a Statement Tub
This serene space features a standing shower and a deep tub. As Jenny's bathrooms always are, the space is relaxing, boasting a calming color palette and dreamy art.
see more: 42 Main Bathroom Ideas From HGTV Magazine
In the Bathroom: Say Yes to Windows
It makes all the difference. Jenny and Dave added a narrow window into the exterior wall of this bathroom, shining major light into what would have been a dark space. Gray and white shower tiles reflect the light while adding texture.
In the Bathroom: Add a Touch of Terra Cotta
Saltillo, a handmade terra-cotta tile, plays a big role in this Spanish-inspired bathroom. Laid in a herringbone pattern, the tile boasts both warm color and a cozy pattern. Take a peek in the mirror for a look at the brilliantly blue shower, which adds some Mediterranean character.
In the Spare Room: Make a Space for the Kids
This third-floor retreat offers plenty of space for kids' toys and storage. Jenny's freehand wall murals add color and interest: Scenic mountains adorn one wall, while marshy and oceanic images decorate the others. One side of the playroom even includes a custom climbing wall for kids — built by Dave, of course.
see more: Dave and Jenny Marrs' 'Rock the Block' House Reveal
In the Spare Room: Create a Reading Nook
Dave and Jenny removed a small closet in the main bedroom of their Rock the Block to create a reading nook. Green wall paneling, high-end wallpaper and a bench seat make the space attractive and functional. New doors create porch access directly from the main bedroom.
see more: 20 Cozy Reading Nooks
In the Spare Room: Make It a Study
Dave and Jenny transformed the room at the end of the hallway in this home into a study suite for kids. Built-in desks, task lighting and a simple chalkboard-painted wall make the space fun and functional.
see more: 30 Home Office Design Ideas We Love
In the Backyard: Build a Chicken Coop
It was no small feat, but this English Country coop Dave built at The Welcome Inn is magnificent. Guests at the inn can enjoy fresh eggs, compliments of Dave and Jenny.
In the Backyard: Make It Family Friendly
A dog-friendly play area sits in the back corner of the property along the fence. Dave and Jenny also installed a shade feature to offer extra comfort for kids and pets playing in the yard. With a large dining room table, bright string lights and outdoor features, future homeowners will have a spacious and welcoming outdoor area to entertain friends and family.
see more: Dave and Jenny Marrs' 'Rock the Block' House Reveal
In the Backyard: Work With What You Have
Although the poolhouse in this reno was dated, it ended up being structurally sound, so Dave and Jenny completely resurfaced the pool. The space can be used no matter the weather, but a garage door opens to let the outside in when it’s nice. A graphic mural adds a retro vibe.
see more: 32 Pool House Design Ideas
In the Backyard: Make It Over the Top
Have a hot tub? The Marrs built a deck around this one. Now, it stays hidden when it's not in use. When the homeowners are ready for a dip, they simply raise up the decking to reveal their spa.
see more: Fixer to Fabulous